Elusive Sleep (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Wed, 12 Jun 2013
  • 3173 reads
9 comments
 

The night is long
(Ding-Dong!)
The village church rings out its chime
to measure out the passing time.

The worries buzzing in your mind,
tomorrow’s troubles that encumber,
with prayer should surely be consigned
to that day’s thinking;
slow down your rushing thoughts to number
a field of grazing sheep …

you drift and doze …
elusive sleep
just comes and goes …
that ticking clock,
the beams contracting with a crack,
the pipe that cools with sudden bang
and fridge with intermittent clang …
… each time you jerk
awake …
(and pain, again …)
so would a little work
distract the brain?

‘I haven’t slept a wink’,
you think;
relax with thoughts that act as balm:
walk flower-filled fields, sail ocean calm,
soothed by God’s Spirit from alarm …

… a little read soon brings a yawn …
… ‘how come I missed the dawn?’

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Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Oh this is lovely, Rhiannon. How well it sums up those thoughts that chase around our heads in the small hours, and all those 'noises' we hear, magnified by the dark, and the quietness. Strange how soothing reading in bed is. I have got out of the habit now, unfortunately, but as a child, I always did. A habit I might just resurrect;-) Very much enjoyed, and a brilliant take on the I.P. Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Glad you enjoyed, Tina. When I'm sleeping in my in-laws living room to listen out to Dad's 'call', my husband has to take the battery out of their electric 'Granny clock', and remember to place it back next morning! Getting back to sleep after having to wake and get up at an odd time isn't always easy! Memories of young motherhood! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
and thank you for telling me you 'liked', Jenny. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
Hi Rhiannon, sorry I didn't have time to comment. Just wanted to say I really loved this poem, it summed up the IP perfectly. Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you for coming back to tell me, Jenny! warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello Rhiannon, Yes, you describe so well how noises are magnified at night. The third stanza especially as the noises you describe are just the ones that wake me. Moya
 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Moya, I have always been used to being able to 'cut out' most noises, but have been much more aware of the problem when trying to get back to sleep when I get up to my father-in-law in recent months. thank you for your read and comment, warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

Well said, and how very true. I often have trouble sleeping and go through those same things you mention. I usually read for a few hours in the middle, if I get really frustrated, and then do go back to sleep and probably get a reasonable total in the end.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. Yes, I have often been surprised when, if not worrying about not being properly asleep, I must be relaxing quite well, and find myself fairly fresh in the morning. Rhiannon